Furnace valve or the like



Feb. 16, 1954 5. E. HANSEN 2,668,994

FURNACE VALVE OR THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1951 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 FURNACE VALVE OR THE LIKE George E. Hansen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1951, Serial No. 227,667

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a furnace valve or the like construction. More particularly, it is concerned with a metallurgical furnace valve of the duplex type, whereby one of the valves therewithin will allow a certain amount of metal to flow into a chamber for measured release into a mold, and a second valve therewithin allows for the employment and entry of an inert gas, such as helium, to subsequently or preliminarily, as desired, purge the said furnace valve chamber and also the mold connected thereto.

As to the background for this invention, it should be understood that in the pouring of certain metals, such as magnesium in a foundry, for example, problems are involved which differ substantially from the ordinary installations in foundry practice. More explicitly, accuracy in the quantity of melt poured and purging of the equipment before and after use is desirable and often necessary.

Therefore, one of the important objects of this invention is to provide for a valve construction, in which a two-way reciprocally movable valve is employed which can be seated in a measuring casing within the furnace either in a raised or a lowered position. It thus controls the entry of the molten metal into the casing and subsequently controls the discharge therefrom while closing the entry or inlet passage.

Thus, another object is to provide for a valve in which the molten metal is allowed to flow into a casing chamber with a predetermined amount or measured capacity for exactly filling the mold which subsequently forms the desired casting.

Another object is to provide for a furnace valve construction, in which an independent valve working in collaboration with the first-named valve is operable externally for either subsequent or prior purging of the mold and the casing chamber with such inert gas as helium, for example, or the like. Of course, it may not necessarily be a gas, but could be a liquid under certain requirements.

Another object is to provide for a valve construction in which the valve seat may be easily cleaned by mere rotation or partial rotation of the operating handle attached to the stem and disc, thereby aiding in the removal of accumulations, such as foreign matter, slag, or any other sedimental deposits from the valve seat and thereby making it relatively easy to maintain seat tightness.

Another object is to provide for a furnace valve structure in which the valve handles may be easily...-turned for adjustment in order to suit the installation,

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding with a reading of the description read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional assembly view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exterior view in plan of the novel lever actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to Fig. 1, let it be assumed that a furnace casing, which is here generally designated I, constitutes the container for a metallurgical furnace to be used in the pouring of magnesium or the like metals. The lower end portion of the casing I is provided with a discharge outlet opening 2 therefrom formed in the cap 3 which obviously may or may not be integral with the casing I. However, as indicated, it is preferably welded at the periphery 4 of the cap 3, as shown. Within an outer recessed portion of the cap 3 and bearing against the walls of the casing I, a cylindrical casing 5 is provided which is weldably connected, as at 6, thereby to form a casing chamber I within which the lower valve seat 8 is provided to receive a closure member 9, as illustrated. The furnace I includes the metal containing chamber I 0. The closure member 9 is preferably of either cylindrical or slight frustoconical form, as illustrated, and is suitably shaped, as at II, to seat upon the annular portion 8.

At the upper end portion of the closure member 9, a similar seat contact surface I2 is provided for selective engagement as hereinafter described with the underside of the cap I3. The latter cap member encloses the upper part of the chamber I preferably by an annular seal weld I4, as shown. As previously indicated, the cap I3 on its inner surface is provided with a suitable annular seat I5 for the seating engagement as above described. It will be noted that in this particular valve construction, the stem I6 is preferably of elongated tubular form, and at its upper end limits is open and is threadedly attached, as at Il, to the hollow pivotal head mounting I8, the tubular stem is extending in the usual manner through a conventional centerpiece or guide member generally designated I9 threadedly attached as at 29 and having the stuffing nut 2I, the packing gland 22 with the usual packing 23. It will already be apparent that the stem I5 and the closure member 9 are longitudinally movable.

Asto the manner in which reciprocal moveits ,end portion.islpinnedlas, $2,139 to the base central or vertical port 54 and thence into the transversely extending communicating passages ment is obtained, such actuation is effected by means of a track 24 mounted as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 with the vertically extending 55 and 56. In this position, the main valve posts 25 integral with the track and weldably atclosure member instead of seating at 8, as illustached, as at 26, to the upper surface of the fur trated, may enter the upper seat 15 on the undernace I. It will also be noted that the track 26 side of the cap I3 to render the casing chamber is substantially semi-circularly extending when 1 ijuid tight and permitting the purging gas to viewed in plan and receives the lever, 21 is sass outwardly bf saidcliaifiber ii'if'tb ,the disapertured, as at 28, to be slidabl'y movable arciicharge passage 2; thereby to communicate with ately as hereinafter explained on the semi-sir; the mold (not shown) immediately below and cular track 24. At the upper end portion of the also cleanse the latter, when and if desired. lever 21, a link pin 29 is employed being receiv; Let it tpe assumed further that the casing able within the bifurcated transverse ear portion chamber 1 has been previously cleansed by the 3| of the pivotally mountedlever 3 2 .Th deaf new of the inert gas into said chamber. The tral pin 33 serves as the fulcriii'ri point for the "main valveis then lowered into the position, as latter mentioned lever. It will,,be, clear -thatain illustrated, bvsuitable actuation of the lever 32. order to lock the closure member 9 in either the The valve closure member 9, then seating at 8, opened or closed position as the tubularlsteni 15 allows the port 51 to be opened and in communiis actuated, the locking lever 34, bifurcated as at cation with the chamber It], thus permitting the 30 is employed withlathumblnutandlholt,35 magnesium or otbergme altq,@ e,-s: mber frictionallyengaging the sidesuriaceQL hQ-l wl IV-H l'Q p hQr g g ',ju li i 1 1 215 The pivotal .pine33tisi.siippqnted Within the tia berg fi ret ea -a ar a" H fulcruming meniber.-36 bifurcated as,,at ,40. and to lift the main stem 15. an; bpir the having an.inter1i1ediate space, .31. below the pin member qinto seatedpositioii against, the mounting to.receiverthepivotahrod 3,! whichat 1,5,. Evacuatio lt'en metal from the casing 7 am er wil member.v ,Itishpivotallysattached to the,bolt ,4] l n grder to pr A by. means of. the. pin; 42 thebolt, 4,1 being ,tnreadfrom dropping by ,i 1; ,,d\?I, I 1 edly attached, as at 43,,to the resilientlymgpnted ing chamber, thelev stems extension. member .44,l,as, h re na te ferred to. The.pivotaltrnqwoting heaclfii be ing hollow, is.threadedly,attached, as at, ,4 5, to the threaded shank, of the. su nartin .gfil r m ing..member,= as, ,irhelstem, extens nn 4, iZiP 1oweriendt4a, enlareedto pr vi e shoulder uponrwhich thetq i SDIiHfifiTi 119. ed. This arrangementalsqalloyvsfor the threa d. attaohmenibfisill? ;bei s.\m li me ei s th i nerusoiicirste i it-whic isttsl 'lqo cal y mounted .andaxially movable within uthefirst '4 the helium or th named tubular ma fi sp in s tat t'$ b ;f serves ,to hold ,the ,sten 1 a lowereg axial '32, and; positi n It .willt lec bel i tedifiliat ther an t t annular. le rance. i il fiibemll fi nik pu d diameter of .the stem- 59 andthe in idewa1l5i ofethe hollow I 5, .,-;At the lpwerm ostgend p tionoftheinnfi splidnstemfiflra at 5 provi ed withi ,t l sure, mb tl w rm st te clm eut i ste I formed t 1 1 m a -m i tfi th elowthe. eatt qa J?! a re ea P t -r vid d a in emig ants a ai f., eating ports and 56 which discharge inoth'e cas n c amber 3 le tist ymfi fivr ee s 5 th qmeta al -i. ri As p eviwslxncfie he I 8 i hreadg x 1- n jth r h -aot e for, first to urge effected through its fir We as QXea y main upon the iespctive valve seating arranged. ol

Having now de H claim as, new and desire to fire by llette'rs Patentis:

trifle like, the combinan a remade, the said casing a poi-ts, recitr'oeaiiy movrnern ber therefor iriovable g sea s, the said casing orts 'ctiv'ely ir'iiet and outlet from th ,Said casing, the inlet communicating with i 'te r oj e'iii acejantltlieoutlet 'cqma d portio' or receiving iniiitn ti far the U itely se disposed valve seats in axial aiignin co'operating with the ports within said casing, one of said seats adjoining said inlet at an upper portion of the casing and the other adjoining said outlet at a lower portion of said casing, the said closure member at end limits of its reciprocal movement alternatively contacting said oppositely dis osed valve seats, a plurality of lever means for actuating the said closure member, reciprocally movable closure means within said first-named ported closure member, the said second-named closure means communicating with the ports within the said first-named closure member, the latter ports being in communication with the interior of the said casing, the said second-named closure means predeterminately interrupting the latter ports, an outer stem for actuating said first-named closure member, an inner stem for actuating said second closure means, the inner stem being substantially contained within the said outer stem, the said outer stem being positioned exteriorly of the furnace and being pivotally connected at an end portion thereof to the said inner stem, the said inner stem being axially movable independently relative to the said outer stem upon actuation of one of said plurality of lever means, the said inner stem at a lower limit of said outer stem 6 being in communication with at least one of the ports of the said closure member, and inlet fluid supply means on an upper portion of said lever ,means communicating with the interior of the said outer stem, the fluid flow therefrom at the lower end of the outer stem into the ports of the first-named closure member being controlled by the predetermined axial movement of said inner stem and the second-named closure means relative to the ports of the first-named closure member.

GEORGE E. HANSEN.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,704 Pavyer Apr. 18, 1893 629,459 Nadall et al July 25, 1899 788,671 Partridge May 2, 1905 835,520 Gross Nov. 13, 1906 1,257,478 Goldberg Feb. 26, 1918 2,005,311 Belding June 18, 1935 2,113,894 Lucier Apr. 12, 1938 2,371,604 Brennan Mar. 20, 1945 2,477,338 Toleik Aug. 2, 1949 

